Measurement apparatus and control method of measurement apparatus

ABSTRACT

A measurement apparatus measures an electronic device that vibrates a touch surface to present a tactile sensation. The measurement apparatus includes a pressing portion that applies pressure to a touch surface, a vibration detector that detects vibration of the touch surface, the vibration being produced in response to pressure applied to the touch surface, and a pressure detector that detects the pressure applied to the touch surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2018-098165 filed May 22, 2018, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a measurement apparatus and a controlmethod of a measurement apparatus.

Recently, electronic devices that present a tactile sensation to auser's fingertip or the like have been developed. For example, anelectronic device is known that detects pressure due to a user operationon a touch panel and presents a tactile sensation to a user's fingertipor the like via the touch panel when the pressure satisfies apredetermined standard.

SUMMARY

A measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure measures an electronic device that vibrates a touch surfaceto present a tactile sensation. The measurement apparatus includes apressing portion that applies pressure to a touch surface, a vibrationdetector that detects vibration of the touch surface, the vibrationbeing produced in response to pressure applied to the touch surface, anda pressure detector that detects the pressure applied to the touchsurface.

A control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure isa control method of a measurement apparatus for measuring an electronicdevice that vibrates a touch surface to present a tactile sensation. Themeasurement apparatus includes a pressing portion, a vibration detector,and a pressure detector. The control method includes detecting, using avibration detector, vibration of a touch surface, the vibration beingproduced in response to pressure applied to the touch surface. Thecontrol method includes detecting, using a pressure detector, thepressure applied to the touch surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a measurement apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the configuration of the measurementapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating an example of vibration produced by anelectronic device that is the target of measurement by the measurementapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed bythe measurement apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another example of processingexecuted by the measurement apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A measurement apparatus that quantitatively measures the tactilesensation presented by an electronic device and a control method of themeasurement apparatus are described below.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example configuration of ameasurement apparatus 1, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, that measures a tactile sensation. The measurement apparatus1 and an electronic device 20, which is the target of measurement, areillustrated in FIG. 1. For example, the measurement apparatus 1 includesa pressing portion 7, a vibration detector 8, and a pressure detector 9.The measurement apparatus 1 may be formed to have a shape and materialfashioned after a human finger. The user presses the measurementapparatus 1 against a touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 thatis the target of measurement. While details are provided below, themeasurement apparatus 1 is configured so that when the electronic device20 is pressed by the pressing portion 7 and vibrates, the vibration ofthe electronic device 20 is detected by the vibration detector 8, andthe pressure applied to the electronic device 20 is detected by thepressure detector 9. The measurement apparatus 1 can therebyquantitatively measure the tactile sensation presented by the electronicdevice. The measurement apparatus 1 is also referred to as the apparatusitself.

(Electronic Device Configuration)

The electronic device 20 that is the target of measurement by themeasurement apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure includes a touch surface 21. The electronic device 20vibrates the touch surface 21 in accordance with a user operation on thetouch surface 21. The electronic device 20 can thereby present thetactile sensation to the user's finger or other body part, or to aninstrument such as a touch pen, that is touching the touch surface 21.By obtaining a sense of operation through a tactile sensation on thefingertip or the like, the user can learn that input from the operationhas been recognized by the apparatus. The touch surface 21 may be anycomponent that includes a touch sensor, such as a touch panel or a touchswitch. Various types of touch sensors may be used, such as a resistivefilm type, a capacitive type, and an optical type.

The tactile sensation presented by the electronic device 20 may includea sense of pressure, whereby the user senses a load in the bones andmuscles as hardness or the like of the object when touching the object,and a sense of touch, whereby the user senses vibration on the skinsurface as the feel or the like of the object when touching the object.The electronic device 20 can present the user with a tactile sensationby vibrating the touch surface 21 to stimulate the user's sense ofpressure and sense of touch. For example, the tactile sensation ofclicking a button may be included in the tactile sensation presented bythe electronic device 20.

The electronic device 20 that presents such a tactile sensation may beany electronic device having the touch surface 21 that presents atactile sensation. Examples of such electronic devices include a mobilephone terminal, a smartphone, a phablet, a tablet PC, a PDA, a remotecontrol, a portable music player, and a game device. The electronicdevice 20 that presents a tactile sensation is not limited to suchportable devices. Other examples of the electronic device 20 thatpresents a tactile sensation may include a desktop PC, a vendingmachine, a bank ATM, a ticket vending machine at a station, and othersuch electronic devices having the touch surface 21. Furthermore,examples of the electronic device 20 that presents a tactile sensationmay include onboard devices in an automobile, such as a steering wheel,a car navigation system, a door lock button, and an onboard controlpanel embedded in the dashboard. Examples of the electronic device 20that presents a tactile sensation are not limited to onboard devices andmay include a wide variety of electronic devices, such as householdappliances and industrial equipment.

(Configuration of Measurement Apparatus)

The schematic configuration of the measurement apparatus 1 as an exampleof a measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is now described. The measurement apparatus 1 in FIG. 2includes functional components such as a controller 2, a memory 3, anotification interface 4, an input interface 5, a communicationinterface 6, the pressing portion 7, the vibration detector 8, and thepressure detector 9.

While details are provided below, the controller 2 is one or moreprocessors that provide control and processing capabilities forimplementing the functions of the measurement apparatus 1. Thecontroller 2 may be a processor, such as a central processing unit(CPU), that executes programs with prescribed control procedures or maybe a dedicated processor specialized for the processing of eachfunction.

The controller 2 is connected to each of the aforementioned functionalcomponents of the measurement apparatus 1 in a wired or wireless mannerand controls and manages all or a portion of the measurement apparatus1, starting with the functional components. The controller 2 acquires aprogram stored in the memory 3 and executes the program to implementvarious functions pertaining to each functional component of themeasurement apparatus 1. The characteristic control performed by thecontroller 2 in the present embodiment is further described below.

The memory 3 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magneticmemory, or an optical memory. The memory 3 may, for example, function asa main storage apparatus or an auxiliary storage apparatus. The memory 3may also be a cache memory or the like of the processor included in thecontroller 2. The memory 3 may be a volatile storage apparatus or anon-volatile storage apparatus. The memory 3 stores information andprograms used for control and processing to implement the functions ofthe measurement apparatus 1. The memory 3 may, for example, store avibration detection condition for detecting vibration of the electronicdevice 20 that is the target of measurement, a pressure detectioncondition for detecting pressure applied to the electronic device 20, anevaluation condition for evaluating the presentation of a tactilesensation by the electronic device 20 that is the target of measurement,or the like, as described below.

The notification interface 4 provides notification of information bysound, vibration, light, images, and the like. The notificationinterface 4 includes at least one of a speaker, an oscillator, a light,a display device, and the like. The display device can, for example, bea liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. Based oncontrol by the controller 2, the notification interface 4 may provide atleast one form of notification such as a tactile sensation presented bythe electronic device 20 that is the target of measurement, the pressureapplied to the electronic device 20 when the electronic device 20presents the tactile sensation, the result of evaluating the provisionof a tactile sensation by the electronic device 20, and the like. Forexample, when the electronic device 20 that is the target of measurementis evaluated as not presenting a tactile sensation properly, thenotification interface 4 may notify the user of an error by generatingsound and turning on a light.

The input interface 5 can receive input operations from the user. Theinput interface 5 may, for example, include an input device such as atouch panel provided integrally with the display device of thenotification interface 4, a keyboard, a mouse, a camera, a microphone,or the like. Upon detecting a user operation, the input interface 5transmits the user operation to the controller 2 as electronicinformation. At least one of the notification interface 4 and the inputinterface 5 may, for example, be provided in a remote control, a tablet,a personal computer, a control apparatus, or the like physicallyseparated from the measurement apparatus 1. For example, the inputinterface 5 may receive a user operation to start, end, or pausemeasurement by the measurement apparatus 1. The input interface 5 mayreceive a user operation to set the aforementioned vibration detectioncondition, pressure detection condition, evaluation condition, or thelike. The controller 2 may control the measurement apparatus 1 based onuser operations received by the input interface 5.

Based on control by the controller 2, the communication interface 6communicates with another device communicably connected to themeasurement apparatus 1 in a wired or wireless manner. The communicationinterface 6 may, for example, include a wired local area network (LAN)communication module or a wireless LAN communication module. Themeasurement apparatus 1 can, for example, receive a control signal forcontrol of the measurement apparatus 1 from another device and operatebased on the received control signal. The measurement apparatus 1 mayalso transmit a signal including the result of measurement of theelectronic device 20, the result of evaluation, or the like to anotherdevice.

The pressing portion 7 applies pressure to the touch surface 21 of theelectronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. The shape andmaterial of the pressing portion 7 may be any shape and materialcorresponding to the application of the touch surface 21 of theelectronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. For example,when the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 that is the targetof measurement is operated by a human finger, a touch pen, or the like,the pressing portion 7 may be configured to have a shape and materialthat reproduces the pressure applied to the touch surface 21 by suchobjects. When the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 isoperated by a human finger, the pressing portion 7 may be fashionedafter a human finger and may be formed from a material that imitates ahuman finger by including a rubber material such as elastomer orsilicone. A component such that at least one of the shape and thematerial is fashioned after a human finger is also referred to below asan artificial finger. The pressing portion 7 is disposed at any positionenabling application of pressure to the touch surface 21 of theelectronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. For example, thepressing portion 7 may be disposed to cover the outer surface of themeasurement apparatus 1 that is fashioned after a human finger, asillustrated in FIG. 2. The pressing portion 7 can thereby apply pressureto the electronic device 20 when the user presses the measurementapparatus 1 against the touch surface 21.

The measurement apparatus 1 can apply pressure to the touch surface 21of the electronic device 20 via the pressing portion 7 by any methodcorresponding to the conditions, set in the electronic device 20, forpresentation of a tactile sensation. For example, the conditions, set inthe electronic device 20, for presentation of a tactile sensation may bedefined using items such as the magnitude, orientation, duration, andpattern of pressure to apply to the touch surface 21. Items included inthe above-described pressure method may be combined for the pressingportion 7 to reproduce an operation by the user such as a tap, doubletap, long tap, drag, swipe, flick, or pinch. In FIG. 2, the measurementapparatus 1 and the pressing portion 7 are fashioned after a humanfinger, but this example is not limiting. The measurement apparatus 1and the pressing portion 7 may, for example, be fashioned after any partof the human body, including one or more fingers or one or more palms,in accordance with the conditions, set in the electronic device 20, forpresentation of a tactile sensation.

The vibration detector 8 detects vibration produced in the touch surface21 of the electronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. Thevibration detector 8 may include a laser interference displacement meteror a laser Doppler vibrometer. In this case, the vibration detector 8may be disposed at a position, such as the tip of the measurementapparatus 1, enabling irradiation of a laser onto the touch surface 21of the electronic device 20. The vibration detector 8 can irradiate thetouch surface 21 of the electronic device 20, which is the target ofmeasurement, with a laser and receive reflected light to detectinformation related to vibration of the touch surface 21 in anon-contact manner. The information related to vibration may, forexample, include at least one of the frequency, wavelength, waveform,amplitude, duration, and pattern of the vibration. The informationrelated to vibration is also simply referred to as vibration. Thevibration detector 8 may include a sensor such as a vibration sensor,gyro sensor, speed sensor, acceleration sensor, rotation angle sensor,or angular velocity sensor. In this case, the vibration detector 8 maybe disposed at a position in the measurement apparatus 1 enablingdetection of vibration produced in the touch surface 21 of theelectronic device 20. The vibration detector 8 can detect vibration ofthe touch surface 21 based on the information detected by the sensor.The method by which the vibration detector 8 detects the vibrationproduced in the touch surface 21 and the arrangement position of thevibration detector 8 are not limited to the above examples and may befreely determined.

The pressure detector 9 detects pressure applied to the touch surface 21of the electronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. Thepressure detector 9 may include a pressure sensor. In this case, thepressure detector 9 may be installed at a position in the measurementapparatus 1 facing the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20. Thepressure detector 9 can detect information related to the pressureapplied to the touch surface 21. The information related to pressuremay, for example, include the magnitude, orientation, duration, andpattern of the pressure. The information related to pressure is alsosimply referred to as pressure. Various types of pressure sensors may beused, such as a resistive film type, a capacitive type, and an opticaltype. The method by which the pressure detector 9 detects the pressureapplied to the touch surface 21 and the arrangement position of thepressure detector 9 are not limited to the above examples and may befreely determined.

The control performed by the controller 2 for the functions of themeasurement apparatus 1 is described below. The controller 2 detectsvibration of the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 using thevibration detector 8. The vibration detector 8 may detect vibration ofthe touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 by using a sensor orthe like, included in the vibration detector 8, to measure informationrelated to vibration of the touch surface 21 of the electronic device20, as described above. In this case, the controller 2 acquires thevibration of the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 measuredby the vibration detector 8 from the vibration detector 8. Thecontroller 2 may use a predetermined vibration detection condition todetect vibration of the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20with the vibration detector 8. The vibration detection condition may beset freely in accordance with conditions, set in the electronic device20, for presenting the tactile sensation. The vibration detectioncondition may, for example, include conditions on the frequency,wavelength, waveform, amplitude, duration, and pattern of the vibrationof the touch surface 21. In this case, the controller 2 may acquireinformation related to vibration of the touch surface 21 measured by thevibration detector 8 and judge whether the acquired informationsatisfies the vibration detection condition set in advance. When theinformation related to vibration of the touch surface 21 measured by thevibration detector 8 satisfies the vibration detection condition, thecontroller 2 may judge that the vibration detector 8 has detectedvibration of the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20.

The controller 2 uses the pressure detector 9 to detect the pressureapplied to the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20. Thepressure detector 9 may detect pressure applied to the touch surface 21of the electronic device 20 by using a sensor or the like, included inthe pressure detector 9, to measure information related to pressureapplied to the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20, asdescribed above. In this case, the controller 2 acquires the pressureapplied to the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 measured bythe pressure detector 9 from the pressure detector 9. The controller 2may use a predetermined pressure detection condition to detect pressureapplied to the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 with thepressure detector 9. The pressure detection condition may be set freelyin accordance with conditions, set in the electronic device 20, forpresenting the tactile sensation. For example, the pressure detectioncondition may include conditions such as the magnitude, orientation,duration, and pattern of pressure applied to the touch surface 21. Inthis case, the controller 2 may acquire information related to pressureapplied to the touch surface 21 measured by the pressure detector 9 andjudge whether the acquired information satisfies the pressure detectioncondition set in advance. When the information related to pressureapplied to the touch surface 21 measured by the pressure detector 9satisfies the pressure detection condition, the controller 2 may judgethat the pressure detector 9 has detected pressure applied to the touchsurface 21 of the electronic device 20.

The controller 2 evaluates the electronic device 20 based on thevibration detected by the vibration detector 8 and the pressure detectedby the pressure detector 9. The controller 2 may use a predeterminedevaluation condition to evaluate the electronic device 20 based on thedetected vibration and pressure. The evaluation condition may be setfreely in accordance with conditions, set in the electronic device 20,for presenting the tactile sensation. The predetermined evaluationcondition may be a condition on the pressure at which the electronicdevice 20 vibrates the touch surface 21 to present a tactile sensation.The condition related to pressure may, for example, include themagnitude, orientation, duration, and pattern of the pressure. In thiscase, the controller 2 may evaluate the electronic device 20 based onthe pressure detected by the pressure detector 9 when a predeterminedvibration is detected by the vibration detector 8. For example, supposethat according to specifications, the electronic device 20 that is thetarget of measurement vibrates the touch surface 21 when a pressure of 1N is applied to the touch surface 21. The controller 2 may use anevaluation condition stipulating that the magnitude of the pressureapplied to the touch surface 21 when the electronic device 20 presents atactile sensation be 1 N or greater. When the pressure applied by thepressing portion 7 to the touch surface 21 is increased incrementally,and a predetermined vibration is detected by the vibration detector 8,the controller 2 may evaluate the electronic device 20 as properlypresenting a tactile sensation if the pressure detected by the pressuredetector 9 is within a predetermined range of error from 1 N.

The predetermined evaluation condition may be a condition on thevibration produced by the electronic device 20 when pressure is appliedto the touch surface 21. The condition related to vibration may includeconditions on the frequency, wavelength, waveform, amplitude, duration,pattern, and the like of the vibration of the touch surface 21. In thiscase, the controller 2 may evaluate the electronic device 20 based onthe vibration detected by the vibration detector 8 when a predeterminedpressure is detected by the pressure detector 9. For example, supposethat according to specifications, the electronic device 20 produces avibration with the waveform illustrated in FIG. 3 in the touch surface21 when a pressure of 1 N or greater is applied to the touch surface 21.The controller 2 may use a condition related to the waveform of thevibration that the electronic device 20 produces in the touch surface 21as the evaluation condition. When a pressure of 1 N or greater isapplied from the pressing portion 7 to the touch surface 21, and apressure of 1 N or greater is detected by the pressure detector 9, thecontroller 2 may compare information related to the waveform of thevibration detected by the vibration detector 8 and information relatedto the waveform of the vibration illustrated in FIG. 3. When theinformation related to the waveform of the detected vibration is withina predetermined range of error from the information related to thewaveform of the vibration illustrated in the figure, the controller 2may evaluate the electronic device 20 as properly presenting a tactilesensation.

During the above-described evaluation of the electronic device 20, thecontroller 2 may repeat detection of vibration by the vibration detector8 and detection of pressure by the pressure detector 9 multiple times.The controller 2 may calculate the average, maximum value, minimumvalue, distribution, or the like of the plurality of vibrations andpressures detected by the vibration detector 8 and the pressure detector9 and evaluate the electronic device 20 based on the calculated value.

The controller 2 may provide notification of the evaluation result ofthe electronic device 20 from the notification interface 4. Thecontroller 2 may control the notification interface 4 to providenotification of at least one of the vibration of the electronic device20 detected by the vibration detector 8, the pressure applied to theelectronic device 20 and detected by the pressure detector 9, and theevaluation result of the presentation of a tactile sensation by theelectronic device 20. For example, when the electronic device 20 that isthe target of measurement is evaluated as not presenting a tactilesensation properly, the controller 2 may control the notificationinterface 4 to notify the user of an error by generating sound andturning on a light.

(First Operation Example of Measurement Apparatus)

An example of operations executed by the measurement apparatus 1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described withreference to FIG. 1. The measurement apparatus 1 according to the firstoperation example can be used to test whether the electronic device 20vibrates the touch surface 21 to present a tactile sensation when thepressure applied to the touch surface 21 reaches a predeterminedpressure. For example, suppose that according to specifications, theelectronic device 20 should not vibrate the touch surface 21 when apressure of less than 1 N is applied to the touch surface 21 but shouldvibrate the touch surface 21 when a pressure of 1 N or greater isapplied. In FIG. 1, the user is pressing the pressing portion 7 of themeasurement apparatus 1 against the touch surface 21 of the electronicdevice 20. The measurement apparatus 1 uses the pressing portion 7 toapply pressure to the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 thatis the target of measurement. When the pressure applied from thepressing portion 7 to the touch surface 21 is incrementally increased bythe user from any value less than 1 N, the electronic device 20 vibratesthe touch surface 21 at a certain point. When the vibration of the touchsurface 21 is detected by the vibration detector 8, the measurementapparatus 1 uses the pressure detector 9 to detect the pressure appliedto the touch surface 21. The measurement apparatus 1 judges that theelectronic device 20 is properly presenting a tactile sensation when themagnitude of the pressure detected by the pressure detector 9 is withina predetermined range of error from 1 N. Conversely, the measurementapparatus 1 judges that the electronic device 20 is not properlypresenting a tactile sensation when the magnitude of the pressuredetected by the pressure detector 9 is outside a predetermined range oferror from 1 N, or when pressure is not detected by the pressuredetector 9. In accordance with the result of judgment, the measurementapparatus 1 notifies the user of the test result by outputting differentsounds from the notification interface 4 for the cases of the electronicdevice 20 operating properly and not operating properly.

(First Processing Example of Measurement Apparatus)

An example of processing executed by the measurement apparatus 1, whichis a measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, is described with reference to FIG. 4. In the presentprocessing example, the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20that is the target of measurement is described as being pressed by theuser with the pressing portion 7 of the measurement apparatus 1.

Step S101: the measurement apparatus 1 applies pressure to the touchsurface 21 of the electronic device 20 using the pressing portion 7.

Step S102: the controller 2 judges whether a predetermined vibration ofthe touch surface 21 is detected by the vibration detector 8. When apredetermined vibration is not detected by the vibration detector 8(step S102: No), the processing of step S101 is continued.

Step S103: when a predetermined vibration is detected by the vibrationdetector 8 (step S102: Yes), the controller 2 uses the pressure detector9 to detect the pressure applied to the touch surface 21.

Step S104: the controller 2 evaluates the electronic device 20 based onthe pressure detected by the pressure detector 9 and the vibrationdetected by the vibration detector 8. Specifically, the controller 2evaluates the electronic device 20 based on the pressure detected by thepressure detector 9 when a predetermined vibration is detected by thevibration detector 8.

Step S105: the controller 2 provides notification of the evaluationresult of the electronic device 20 from the notification interface 4.

(Second Operation Example of Measurement Apparatus)

An example of operations executed by the measurement apparatus 1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described withreference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The measurement apparatus 1 according to thesecond operation example can be used to test whether the electronicdevice 20 produces a predetermined vibration in the touch surface 21 topresent a tactile sensation properly when pressure is applied to thetouch surface 21. For example, suppose that according to specifications,the electronic device 20 produces a vibration with the waveformillustrated in FIG. 3 in the touch surface 21 when a pressure of 1 N orgreater is applied to the touch surface 21. An evaluation condition thatuses the maximum amplitude, duration, repeated pattern, and the like todefine the waveform of the vibration illustrated in FIG. 3 is stored inthe memory 3 of the measurement apparatus 1. In FIG. 1, the user ispressing the pressing portion 7 of the measurement apparatus 1 againstthe touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20. A pressure of 1 N orgreater is applied from the pressing portion 7 to the touch surface 21by the user. When the pressure applied to the touch surface 21 isdetected by the pressure detector 9, the measurement apparatus 1 usesthe vibration detector 8 to detect vibration produced in the touchsurface 21. The measurement apparatus 1 judges that the electronicdevice 20 is properly presenting a tactile sensation when the waveformof the vibration detected by the vibration detector 8 is within apredetermined range of error from the waveform illustrated in FIG. 3.Conversely, the measurement apparatus 1 judges that the electronicdevice 20 is not properly presenting a tactile sensation when thewaveform of the vibration detected by the vibration detector 8 isoutside a predetermined range of error from the evaluation condition, orwhen the waveform of the vibration is not detected by the vibrationdetector 8. In accordance with the result of judgment, the measurementapparatus 1 notifies the user of the test result by outputting differentsounds from the notification interface 4 for the cases of the electronicdevice 20 operating properly and not operating properly.

(Second Processing Example of Measurement Apparatus)

An example of processing executed by the measurement apparatus 1, whichis a measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, is described with reference to FIG. 5. In the presentprocessing example, the touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20that is the target of measurement is described as being pressed by theuser with the pressing portion 7 of the measurement apparatus 1.

Step S201: the measurement apparatus 1 applies pressure to the touchsurface 21 of the electronic device 20 using the pressing portion 7.

Step S202: the controller 2 judges whether a predetermined pressure ofthe touch surface 21 is detected by the pressure detector 9. When apredetermined pressure is not detected by the pressure detector 9 (stepS202: No), the processing of step S201 is continued.

Step S203: when a predetermined pressure is detected by the pressuredetector 9 (step S202: Yes), the controller 2 uses the vibrationdetector 8 to detect vibration produced in the touch surface 21.

Step S204: the controller 2 evaluates the electronic device 20 based onthe pressure detected by the pressure detector 9 and the vibrationdetected by the vibration detector 8. Specifically, the controller 2evaluates the electronic device 20 based on the vibration detected bythe vibration detector 8 when a predetermined pressure is detected bythe pressure detector 9.

Step S205: the controller 2 provides notification of the evaluationresult of the electronic device 20 from the notification interface 4.

As described above, the measurement apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment measures the electronic device 20 that vibrates the touchsurface 21 to present a tactile sensation. The measurement apparatusincludes the pressing portion 7 that applies pressure to the touchsurface 21, the vibration detector 8 that detects vibration of the touchsurface 21, the vibration being produced in response to pressure appliedto the touch surface 21, and the pressure detector 9 that detects thepressure applied to the touch surface 21. The measurement apparatus 1configured in this way can quantitatively measure the tactile sensationpresented by the electronic device 20. The measurement apparatus 1 canthereby quantitatively make the judgment of whether the tactilesensation presented by the electronic device 20 is the desired tactilesensation, or whether a plurality of electronic devices 20 present thesame tactile sensation. Accordingly, this technique for measuring thetactile sensation presented by the electronic device 20 is more useful.

At least one of the shape and/or the material of the pressing portion 7of the measurement apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment isfashioned after a human finger. When the electronic device 20 that isthe target of measurement includes the touch surface 21 operated by ahuman finger, the above configuration enables reproduction of a touch onthe touch surface 21 of the electronic device 20 by a user's finger whenthe pressing portion 7 applies pressure to the touch surface 21. Thistechnique for measuring the tactile sensation presented by theelectronic device 20 is thereby more useful.

The measurement apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment furtherincludes the controller 2. The controller 2 evaluates the electronicdevice 20 based on the vibration detected by the vibration detector 8and the pressure detected by the pressure detector 9. The measurementapparatus 1 configured in this way can use the vibration of the touchsurface 21 and the pressure applied to the touch surface 21 for amultifaceted evaluation of the tactile sensation presented when theelectronic device 20 that is the target of measurement vibrates thetouch surface 21. This technique for measuring the tactile sensationpresented by the electronic device 20 is thereby more useful.

The controller 2 of the measurement apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment evaluates the electronic device 20 based on the pressuredetected by the pressure detector 9 when a predetermined vibration isdetected by the vibration detector 8. The measurement apparatus 1configured in this way can evaluate, based on the pressure applied tothe touch surface 21, whether the electronic device 20 that presents atactile sensation is presenting the tactile sensation properly. Thistechnique for measuring the tactile sensation presented by theelectronic device 20 is thereby more useful.

The controller 2 of the measurement apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment evaluates the electronic device 20 based on the vibrationdetected by the vibration detector 8 when a predetermined pressure isdetected by the pressure detector 9. The measurement apparatus 1configured in this way can evaluate, based on the vibration produced inthe touch surface 21, whether the electronic device 20 that presents atactile sensation is presenting the tactile sensation properly. Thistechnique for measuring the tactile sensation presented by theelectronic device 20 is thereby more useful.

The vibration detector 8 of the measurement apparatus 1 according to thepresent embodiment detects at least one of the frequency, wavelength,waveform, amplitude, duration, and/or pattern of the vibration of thetouch surface 21. The measurement apparatus 1 configured in this way canquantitatively define the vibration to be produced in the touch surface21 by the electronic device 20 that presents a tactile sensation. Thistechnique for measuring the tactile sensation presented by theelectronic device 20 is thereby more useful.

The measurement apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment furtherincludes the notification interface 4 that provides notification of theevaluation result of the electronic device 20. The measurement apparatus1 configured in this way can inform the user of the measurementapparatus 1 of whether the electronic device 20 that is the target ofmeasurement is properly presenting a tactile sensation. This techniquefor measuring the tactile sensation presented by the electronic device20 is thereby more useful.

The above embodiments have been described as representative examples,but it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art thatnumerous modifications and replacements may be made within the spiritand scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosureshould not be interpreted as being restricted to the above embodiments.A variety of changes or modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of the appended claims. For example, the functions and thelike included in the various units and steps may be reordered in anylogically consistent way. Furthermore, a plurality of units and stepsmay be combined into one, or a single unit or step may be divided.

For example, the measurement apparatus 1 has been described as includingboth the vibration detector 8 and the pressure detector 9 in the aboveembodiment, but this example is not limiting. One of the vibrationdetector 8 and the pressure detector 9 may be separate from themeasurement apparatus 1. The vibration detector 8 or pressure detector 9that is separate may be communicably connected to the measurementapparatus 1 in a wired or wireless manner. For example, when thevibration detector 8 is separate from the measurement apparatus 1, thevibration detector 8 may be disposed at a position enabling detection,at the time of measurement of the electronic device 20 by themeasurement apparatus 1, of vibration produced in the touch surface 21of the electronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. When thepressure detector 9 is separate from the measurement apparatus 1, thepressure detector 9 may be disposed at a position enabling detection, atthe time of measurement of the electronic device 20 by the measurementapparatus 1, of pressure applied to the touch surface 21 of theelectronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. The measurementapparatus 1 may receive information related to the vibration measured bythe vibration detector 8 or the pressure measured by the pressuredetector 9 and perform the above-described measurement and evaluation ofthe electronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. By providingthe vibration detector 8 or the pressure detector 9 separately from themeasurement apparatus 1, this configuration can reduce the effect on thevibration detector 8 or the pressure detector 9 produced when the userpresses the measurement apparatus 1 against the touch surface 21 of theelectronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. This techniquefor measuring the tactile sensation presented by the electronic device20 is thereby more useful.

The target of measurement by the measurement apparatus 1 has beendescribed in the above embodiment as being the electronic device 20 thatvibrates the touch surface 21 to present a tactile sensation, but thisexample is not limiting. The electronic device 20 that is the target ofmeasurement by the measurement apparatus 1 may present a tactilesensation by any method. In this case, the measurement apparatus 1includes a detector that detects the tactile sensation presented by theelectronic device 20 that is the target of measurement. For example, thetarget of measurement by the measurement apparatus 1 may be anelectronic device 20 that cools or heats the touch surface 21 to presenta tactile sensation. In this case, the measurement apparatus 1 mayinclude a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the touchsurface produced in response to pressure being applied to the touchsurface 21. This technique for measuring the tactile sensation presentedby the electronic device 20 is thereby more useful.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A measurement apparatus for measuring anelectronic device that vibrates a touch surface to present a tactilesensation, the measurement apparatus comprising: a pressing portionconfigured to apply pressure to the touch surface; a vibration detectorconfigured to detect vibration of the touch surface, the vibration beingproduced in response to pressure applied to the touch surface; and apressure detector configured to detect the pressure applied to the touchsurface, wherein the measurement apparatus is configured to be pressedagainst the touch surface by a user.
 2. The measurement apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of a shape and/or a material of thepressing portion is fashioned after a human finger.
 3. The measurementapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a controller; wherein thecontroller is configured to evaluate an electronic device based on thevibration and the pressure that are detected.
 4. The measurementapparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to evaluatethe electronic device based on pressure detected by the pressuredetector when a predetermined vibration is detected by the vibrationdetector.
 5. The measurement apparatus of claim 3, wherein thecontroller is configured to evaluate the electronic device based onvibration detected by the vibration detector when a predeterminedpressure is detected by the pressure detector.
 6. The measurementapparatus of claim 3, further comprising a notification interfaceconfigured to provide notification of a result of evaluation of theelectronic device.
 7. The measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein thevibration detector is configured to detect at least one of a frequency,a wavelength, a waveform, an amplitude, a duration, and/or a pattern ofthe vibration of the touch surface.
 8. A control method of a measurementapparatus for measuring an electronic device that vibrates a touchsurface to present a tactile sensation, the measurement apparatuscomprising a pressing portion, a vibration detector, and a pressuredetector, the control method comprising: detecting, using the vibrationdetector, vibration of the touch surface, the vibration being producedin response to pressure applied to the touch surface; and detecting,using the pressure detector, the pressure applied to the touch surface,wherein the measurement apparatus is configured to be pressed againstthe touch surface by a user.
 9. The measurement apparatus of claim 1,wherein the pressing portion is disposed to cover an outer surface ofthe measurement apparatus.
 10. The control method of claim 8, whereinthe pressing portion is disposed to cover an outer surface of themeasurement apparatus.